Napalm Death - Apex Predator-Easy Meat

Published January 29 2015

*=Staff's pick	Apex Predator - Easy Meat Smash A Single Digit* Metaphorically Screw You How The Years Codemn* Stubborn Stains Dear Slum Landlord* Cesspits Bloodless Coup* Beyond The Pale Stunt Your Growth Hierarchies One-Eyed Adversarial/Copulating Snakes

Genre	Grindcore/Death Metal	Mark Greenway	Vocals
Tracks	14	Mitch Harris	Guitar
Running time	39 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Century Media	Shane Embury	Bass
Release	26 January 2015	Danny Herrera	Drums
Country	England	-	Keyboard
Producer	Russ Russell
Similar artists	---

Could a new record from Napalm Death be something worthwhile? With record number 13 up for grabs it is perhaps relevant to ask oneself that question.

To be honest, the band's classic legacy put aside, the latest decade in the band's carrier is much more interesting than the previous one and without totally abandoning their classic punk/grindcore roots Napalm Death have been experimenting quite a bit on the latest records than on the by purists so highly acclaimed records from the 1990s. Most evident this becomes on the latest record "Apex Predator - Easy Meat" in song as the opener as well as the title track and Dear Slum Landlord where the band pulls off of the predominately really fast playing and creates, well, something different compared to the belligerent rage that the band has spoiled us with during the years.

In fact, the band sounds angrier and more driven on "Apex Predator - Easy Meat" than they have in years. Gone are the not totally masterful song that could be found on "Utilitarian" for example, and back is the political rage dressed in a musical suit. With a starting point in a terrible accident in a sweatshop in Bangladesh where over 1000 workers were killed and numerous others severely wounded the record forms itself up to a diatribe over human greed and corruption. So far nothing new under the sun, right? Well, this time around Napalm Death sounds more pissed off than before about the way things are in the world. Perhaps a small detail, but important nonetheless.

Musically, rage seems to be the predominant vibe. Danny Herrera has upped the ante and delivers a blastbeat storm throughout the album. Mark "Barney" Greenway answers for a totally impressive achievement. He even sounds more pissed off than on "Time Waits For No Slave".

If you've listened to Napalm Death during the latest years you will undoubtedly recognize the band - Napalm Death allow themselves to experiment somewhat - but never to alienate the listener. "Apex Predator - Easy Meat" is a very good album that I will return to many times during 2015.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
8	6	7	8	8

Summary
8 chalices of 10 - Martin